Provincial News

Ontario Providing Faster Access to Mental Health Services for Thousands of People

Province Investing in More Psychotherapy, Supportive Housing and Services for Youth

Ontario is providing faster access to mental health and addictions services across the province, with new investments that will ensure thousands more people can get the support they need when they need it.

Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was at Routes - Social Resource Centre today to announce that Ontario is supporting:

More access to therapy to help thousands of people living with conditions like anxiety and depression learn strategies to improve their mental health and be more successful in their daily lives. Ontario is working with Health Quality Ontario and other stakeholders to develop a provincial structured psychotherapy program, while also supporting the expansion of structured psychotherapy offered through existing partners. Structured psychotherapy offers evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, to people online or in-person through individual or group sessions.

Up to nine hubs where young people aged 12 to 25 can receive walk-in, one-stop access to mental health and addictions services, as well as other health, social and employment supports under one roof. These integrated youth service hubs help with early identification and intervention to prevent more serious issues from developing later in life. Funding will help expand and improve youth service hubs, while exploring the creation of up to five new sites across the province.

Up to 1,150 additional supportive housing units across Ontario for people living with mental illness and addictions, especially those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. These housing units would provide a secure and affordable place to live, as well as services such as counselling.

The province is working to transform the mental health and addictions system into one that is equitable, high-performing and recovery-oriented, where every person in Ontario can access consistent, high-quality services, no matter where they live. This includes ensuring mental illness is treated like any other chronic disease.

Expanding access to mental health and addictions services is part of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that's sustainable for generations to come.

Quick Facts

Ontario is investing $140 million over three years to support these initiatives, which will be followed by a sustained increase in funding of $50 million annually. This investment is in addition to the $3.7 billion that Ontario invested in mental health and addictions services in 2015-16.

Approximately 30 per cent of people in Ontario will experience a mental health and/or substance abuse challenge at some point in their lifetime.

With this new investment, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will provide almost 17,000 units of supportive housing for people living with mental illness or addictions, and other vulnerable people.

Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Leadership Advisory Council was formed in 2014 and consists of representatives from diverse sectors, including mental health and addictions experts and people with lived experience.